She sniffed. She wore fitted pants, and a tight, blue shirt that left her toned arms bare. It showcased her strength.
“Fine. But if you hear anything about Poppy, I want to know straight away.”
Rhain walked to her and cupped her cheek. “Of course.” He dropped a kiss to her lips and was fascinated to see color fill her cheeks.
She cleared her throat and shot a look at Tavith.
“He’s a medica, Mal, I’m pretty certain he knows what we’ve been doing in here.”
“Resting,” Tavith said, voice deadpan.
“I stayed in bed,” she said. “Mostly.”
“Go and get checked.” Rhain tugged on her ponytail and looked past her to Tavith. “Her energy is strong. It glows silver-white.”
The medica’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“She threw up the strongest energy wall I’ve seen. Her skills are different than Zhaltons.”
“Due to her different genetic material.” Tavith focused on her. “Let’s go. I’m eager to get to work.”
She shot Rhain a resigned look as the medica pulled her out the door.
Rhain found a stone-faced Thadd waiting for him outside.
“Your advisors are waiting.” The captain’s tone was cool.
They fell into step.
“Any word from the scouts?” Rhain asked.
Thadd shook his head. “Nothing.”
Rhain let out a breath. Gorr, they needed to find Krastin. “Thadd, I’m sorry. For blocking you in the cavern. I had to help Mal.”
“It’s my job, my duty, to protect you.”
“I know and I stopped you from doing that.”
“You risked your life for her.”
Oh, his captain was not happy. “Yes. And she risked hers to save all of us.”
“You’re the overlord. She is…not even Zhalton.”
“She’s mine now.” Rhain stopped and faced his friend.
“So sleep with her and be done with it.” Thadd tossed a frustrated hand in the air. “Don’t risk your life for her.”
“Thadd,” Rhain growled. “You will protect her like you protect me.”
Thadd’s mouth tightened. He looked like he wanted to hit something.
“She is mine.”
Finally, Thadd nodded. He might not be happy, but if there was one thing that Rhain could count on, it was Thadd’s bone-deep loyalty.
They entered the main chamber. Jaro and several advisors, including some nobles, waited for him.
“Overlord.” Jaro bowed his head. “We’re very happy to see you healthy and looking so refreshed.”
Being refreshed had nothing to do with his healing and everything to do with Mal. “Did you recover the downed flyer and our people without incident?”
“Yes.” Jaro turned and a projection flared up. “We tracked the Zhylaw raiders to a location close to the cavern where you fought the hexids.”
Rhain turned back to the projection. “We need to find Krastin’s base.”
“We’ve doubled the number of scouts in the area, my lord,” Jaro said. “But as you know, it is very rough terrain.”
“Krastin’s taunting us, trying to lure you out,” Thadd said. “He wants you dead.”
“My father doesn’t want me dead.” Zavir wanted to use Rhain and his power.
“Krastin will kill you, claim it was an accident, and beg for forgiveness.”
“That’s what Mal said.”
“For once, I agree with her.”
There was the sound of the swish of skirts, and Rhain tensed. He knew that sound. Across from him, Thadd stiffened.
Two young women in long, white dresses stepped into the room. One had waist-length, blonde hair, and the other had deep-red hair.
“Overlord,” the blonde murmured.
They both bowed their heads. They wore crowns of flowers on their heads and no shoes.
“Our mistress requests your presence,” the blonde said.
“And the newcomer,” the redhead added.
“Newcomer?” Rhain asked.
“The female who crashed on our planet.”
Mal.
Rhain really didn’t want to take her to see the priestess. But he didn’t have much of a choice. The priestesses of energy had been around since the Radiance. Most people called the head priestess an energy witch.
No one really practiced religion on Zhalto, but everyone revered the energy that infused their lives. No one dared anger or insult the energy priestesses.
He’d learned early on that ignoring the energy witch only caused more problems.
“Very well.”
The two young women bowed and glided away.
Thadd cleared his throat. “I have some things to do. You’ll be safe at the temple, so I’ll see you when you return.”
“Coward.”
“Yes.” Thadd stalked off.
Rhain headed down the hall toward the medica ward. He found Mal sitting on a bunk while Tavith scanned her.
“Is she okay?” he asked.
The medica nodded. “Fit and healthy. Her body is still adapting to the environment, so she may still manifest some new energy abilities, but other than that, she’s fine.”
Mal jumped off the bunk. “Great.”
“We have a visit to make,” Rhain told her.
She raised a brow.
“The head priestess has summoned us.”
Beside her, Tavith did his best to hide a wince.
“Priestess?” Mal said.
“Yes, we have a sect of women who are especially sensitive to energy. Most people call them energy witches. They can see visions.”
Both of Mal’s eyebrows went up. “Really?”
“Really. They connect with the energy flowing somehow between space and time, and get glimpses of the future.”
“O-kay.”
“The head priestess might give us something about Krastin or Poppy.”
Mal froze. “All right. Lead on.”
They headed out of the palace and crossed the large main bridge. He watched Mal slow her steps, breathe deeply.
“God, this place is pretty.”
He looked at it, trying to see it through her eyes. “I loved growing up here. I grew up running through the streets of Citadel with Thadd.”
“He’s like a brother to you.”
“I also have two brothers.”
Her eyebrows winged up. “Really?”
“Not here. They aren’t Zhalton, and they’re technically half-brothers. Zavir fathered a son with wives from the other two habitable planets in the system. My brother Brodin rules the planet Damar. Graylan rules the planet Taln.”
“Do you get along?”
He nodded. “We do, and we’re united in our hatred of Zavir.”
“Can they use energy like you do?”
“No, each of the species on the other planets have their own powers. The Damari are wolf shapeshifters, and the Taln can utilize the geological forces of their planet.” He scanned his city. “I worry that Zavir will attack their planets too.”
She touched Rhain’s arm. “You’ll beat him.”
A group of children, led by two teachers, walked by. The boys and girls called out hellos and waved to Rhain, all of them beaming.
“You belong here.” A sad smile crossed Mal’s face. “It must be nice to know you truly fit somewhere.”
He hated that she’d never had that. “I always knew Zavir might come for me, or attack Zhalto. I knew I had to protect it.”
“I get that…but at what price?”
“Any.”
She looked away. “Your own life?”
“If required.” He moved closer behind her, nuzzled her neck. “But I’d prefer to live.”
She looked up at him. “I’d prefer that too.”
He took her hand, entwining their fingers. He led her toward the temple of the energy.